Opinion: Montgomery County Regulations Stifle Nightlife

The county hasn’t acted on the recommendations of its own Nighttime Economy Task Force, which suggested ways to improve the business climate for restaurants and nightclubs to draw younger residents to the region.

2 minute read

July 18, 2024, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Night view of vintage theater with neon marquee in Bethesda, Maryland.

The Bethesda Blues and Jazz Club in Bethesda, Maryland. | MJ Kerr / Adobe Stock

In a piece for Greater Greater Washington, Weston Henry describes how Montgomery County’s business regulations are stifling the development of nightlife in the county.

According to Henry, the Nighttime Economy Task Force, formed in 2013, published a series of recommendations to revitalize the county and bring more residents and businesses to the area. “And yet, here we are eleven years later, with no dance clubs, few late-night spots, and little evidence to suggest that the perception of the county as a social desert for singles has changed.”

Henry blames this on the Board of License Commissioners, which “is solely responsible for creating the county’s alcohol rules and regulations, and have created a series of regulations seemingly designed with the sole intention of preventing any venue catering to young, single, or recently transplanted people to open in the county.” Henry notes that restrictions on restaurants and bars such as requiring that 40 percent of income be earned through food sales, prohibiting dancing in venues without a special license, and requiring a full menu of food are preventing businesses from operating successfully. While the task force recommended a new social venue license, it was never created.

While some local officials say the younger work force will move back to the county after they have kids, this belief, Henry writes, “is a terrible economic strategy. It contributes to our massive labor shortage, which forces employers to eliminate positions, as the county itself did last year, or move to where they can find people to fill these positions.”

Tuesday, July 16, 2024 in Greater Greater Washington

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

2 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

15 minutes ago - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

1 hour ago - Next City

View of passengers on transit bus at night.

Opinion: Transit Agencies Must View Service Cuts as Last Resort

Reducing service could cripple transit systems by pushing more riders to consider car ownership, making future recovery even less certain.

3 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab